Archive for December, 2017

Alice in Space: The Sideways Victorian World of Lewis Carroll by Gillian Beer.

Published by University of Chicago Press (29 Nov. 2016)
ISBN-10: 0226041506
ISBN-13: 978-0226041506
Hardback with dustjacket.

From the publisher:

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll created fantastic worlds that continue to delight and trouble readers of all ages today. Few consider, however, that Carroll conceived his Alice books during the 1860s, a moment of intense intellectual upheaval, as new scientific, linguistic, educational, and mathematical ideas flourished around him and far beyond. Alice in Space reveals the contexts within which the Alice books first lived, bringing back the zest to jokes lost over time and poignancy to hidden references.

Gillian Beer explores Carroll’s work through the speculative gaze of Alice, for whom no authority is unquestioned and everything can speak. Parody and Punch, evolutionary debates, philosophical dialogues, educational works for children, math and logic, manners and rituals, dream theory and childhood studies—all fueled the fireworks. While much has been written about Carroll’s biography and his influence on children’s literature, Beer convincingly shows him at play in the spaces of Victorian cultural and intellectual life, drawing on then-current controversies, reading prodigiously across many fields, and writing on multiple levels to please both children and adults in different ways.

With a welcome combination of learning and lightness, Beer reminds us that Carroll’s books are essentially about curiosity, its risks and pleasures. Along the way, Alice in Space shares Alice’s exceptional ability to spark curiosity in us, too.

Many thanks to Stuart, Andrea and Owen for getting me this one. Available on Amazon.

The company make lots of literary themed goodies with text from well loved classics

Package contains temporary tattoos in 6 designs. Christmas present from Ale and Martin (thanks!), but now I’m in a quandary as to whether use them or save them as part of the collection…

I think I like the Jabberwocky quotation one best, and good to see that they’re all actual quotes from Carroll and not from the Disney films!

Maker’s blurb:

Temporary tattoos to share your favourite literary quotes with the world. Each pack contains 6 unforgettable quips and quotes from memorable characters of beloved classics. They are designed to be realistic, both in terms of their artwork and the way they look once applied. They last 1-3 days, and are easily applied using a wet cloth.

Alice in Wonderland Through the Visual Arts, edited by Gavin Delahunty and Christoph Schulz.

Published to accompany the Tate Liverpool exhibition, 4 November 2011. Soft back.

ISBN 978 1 85437 991 7

From the back cover:

Lewis Carroll’s stories based around the character of Alice have proved to be among the most enduring literary creations of all time. For almost 150 years they have led a double life, on one hand classics of children’s literature and on the other endlessly fascinating source material for artists, writers, filmmakers and creatives of all kinds.

For the first time, this extensively illustrated book examines the visual art that has been inspired by the Alice stories. Beginning with Lewis Carroll’s original sketches and Tenniel’s iconic illustrations it then explores the appearance of the books extraordinary characters in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, film animation and video. Essays by Gillian Beer, Alberto Manguel, Christoph Schulz and Edward Wakeling grant fresh insights Carroll’s life and work together with a new fairy tale specially written by Carol Mavor.